Music industry
Monday 3rd October 2022
L/O: to research the radio industry.
Live Lounging
Commercial Radio - selling, advertising. Make money, mass / large audience.
Public Service Radio - BBC benefit of the public, not for profit, TV license - funds Radio.
Monday 17th October 2022
L/O: to research the radio industry.
Public Service Radio
Public Service Broadcast is the radio for benefit of the public.
BBC - educate, inform + entertain.
- Finding - public - Tv license.
Radio 2
Monday 7th November 2022
L/O: to research the case study and artists involved annotate in detail the examples from the case study.
Case study
Tom Grennan -
- 27 years old
- He is an English singer and songwriter from Bedford and is based in London. Grennan found fame as the guest vocalist on Chase & Status's "All Goes Wrong" in 2016. His debut album, Lighting Matches, was released in July 2018.
- He was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, in the South Midlands of England, but he now lives in London.
- His genre is alternative / indie.
- His current song is called 'All these nights'.
- Critical reception is 'Evering road'.
- In February 2022, Brennan received two Brit Awards nominations, including British Song of the Year for "Little Bit of Love" and Best Rock/Alternative Act.
Monday 21st November 2022
L/O: to explore the BBC Radio and audience behind the live lounge
Public Service Broadcasting
- There is no separate radio licence. The licence fee provides for 8 interactive TV channels, 10 radio networks, more than 50 local TV and radio services; and the services available online via bbc.co.uk.
- 50 regional radio stations.
- BBC don't carry adverts because they are funded by the licence fee.
- Commercial, satellite.
- Capital, heart, hits, pirate fm.
- Phone, radio, computer, tv, smart speaker.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Ages
Radio 1 - 15 to 29
Radio 2 - 35+
Radio 3 - 57+
Radio 4 - 54
Young Listeners - Contemporary music - 15 - 29 year olds.
Emerging artists, UK artists, live music and new.
I think it's more for teenagers / young listeners, because of the artists, music and on 'early' they have a 'decompression session / feeling less lonely' this shows that they know there are young people struggling.
Campaigns aimed at young people.
Monday 5th December 2022
L/O: to explore the BBC Radio contextual issues and the audience behind the Live Lounge.
BBC Radio and audiences
- Entertain young listeners
- 15 to 29 year olds
- Artist emerging (new)
- Live music
- Young adults
The use of bright, saturated colour reflects the positive, upbeat feel of the radio show. The repetition of the number 1 establishes the radio station and the brand identity for the audience. The use of circle shape could be seen to show an inside look into the show and allow the audience to learn more about the presenters and maybe their personalities. The young feel to the show reinforces the industry focus on attracting a young audience for the Public Service remit.
Remit evidence / appeals to a young audience
Political context
Funded by tv license (bbc argument)
- reflect diversity and cater for all
- 15 to 29 younger audience nobody else does that
- live music or live lounge
Not funded (political decision makers)
- mainstream music doesn't educate or inform
Media convergence is a term that can refer to the merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms due to digitisation and computer networking.
- More people will see it and watch it, another way of viewing it.
- Guests appear, good quality show, bigger budgets.
Ofcom regulates radio / they investigate.
Monday 30th January 2023
L/O: to understand exam style questions and practice exam technique.
Absent since 5th December 2022
The Live Lounge appeals to the target audience of 15 - 29 year olds and meets the BBC remit by using things that fit both criteria. For example, to show they have young, dynamic presenters with informal speech such as 'sick' used to describe performances, and other informal speech like 'big up' and 'proper good'. They offer a range of new music, a mixture of mainstream and champion UK artists such as; Holly and Stormzy UK artists. They provide a platform for live music, meaning every guest plays live and plays there own track and cover. They inform, educate and entertain; live aspects adds anticipation and excitement and each episode includes interviews and live performances.
Exam Format
Question 1
- Ofcom
- BBC
- Media conversions
1. ?
2. ?
3. TV licence
Question 2
1. One way Radio 1 Live Lounge targets their audiences is the artists they use, they use artists that are in the top in the UK and go with their certain target audience age. They young presenters with informal speech. They interview guests between songs.
2. One way that music radio stations can meet the requirements of the public service broadcasting is that they play and support emerging artists; they play a mixture of main and new artists. This benefits the public because they're not only listening to the main artists but are listening to the new coming artists.
3. One way in which radio audiences are active is that they phone in, text, answer questions, do shoutouts and get involved. One way radio audiences are passive is that if they are their taking in all the information and not physically talking / doing something live.
Question 3
1. BBC Radio provides a wider range of content than commercial radio because they do Live Lounge unlike some others, interview guests between songs, live aspect to add anticipation and excitement. Radio stations cant afford live and don't have a good enough organisation.
Monday 20th February 2023
DIRT
L/O: to reflect on areas to improve in the assessment.
Question 1:
Identify the word that describes a large company which owns a set of companies that produced different media forms. Conglomerate.
Question 1:
Bauer Media owns radio stations as well as magazines. Identify the word that describes adding other areas of business in this way. Diversification.
Question 1:
Identify one source of funding for BBC Radio 1. Tv License.
Question 2:
Two marks would be given for the opening sentence, which explains how Radio stations target audiences. Two marks would be given for the following sentences, which exemplify different use of targeting in Radio 1 Live Lounge. 4 marks.
Targets Q3:
Make points about how the BBC Radio provide wider content on their radio stations, give examples on Radio 1 and why they have to do this linked to the remit.
- Up and coming artists (UK Artists)
- Remit (Requirements BBC Radio 1)
- Stormzy, Self Esteem
- Live Music - Provide a platform for live music - Plays own track and cover.
- To inform, educate & entertain - Each episode includes interviews and live performances.
BBC Radio provides a wider range of content than commercial radio for several reasons.
Firstly Radio 1 provides interviews with guests in between each song. This example is due to the remit and in particular provides a mix of music and speech. We can identify this in the Live Lounge through stories about Holly moving to London and everyday life, Diary and sister stories.
Monday 6th March 2023
L/O: to research the case study and artists involved. Annotate in detail the examples from the case study.
Lizzo:
- 34 years old.
- From Detroit, Michigan, United States.
- Genres / Hip-Hop Rap and R&B / Soul.
- Grammy award / 22 wins and 98 nominations.
- She moved to Houston with her family at 10 years old, moved to Minneapolis where she began her music career.
- Biggest hit was 'Truth Hurts' - 2019.
- Birthday is on April 27th.
- Lizzo is her stage name.
- American.
Original Song - Special: covers topics of injustice, gender inequality. Jokes about it being her favourite, important song she has written, timing of the making of the song with collaboration.
Cover Song - Sam Smith Unholy, caused controversy when it first came out in terms of the video and acknowledges topical issues in society.
Guest name and info - Lizzo: talks about her clothing brand, 'business woman'.
Inform - educates and entertains, 4th time appearing on the Live Lounge. Entertains through her comical responses to questions: 'it's a tune' informs she plays the flute and shows her skills. Talks about background and shares anecdotes with the presenters / listeners. Discusses rider, Hot Cheetos? Entertains through language and culture differences in the UK and USA. Jokes about the relationship with SZA, defends her supports her, positive support for other artists.
Quotes - 'i'm a business woman' abbreviation of words by presenters, slang used e.g. 'amazing'.
Innovative show - 3 presenters, varied artists, Lizzo really successful and famous, still interested in play the live lounge even after 4th time being there. We bring you live performances when you can't get to them yourselves. Brit awards attended.
Target audience - Kendrick Lamar on the playlist, similar genre to Lizzo, young audience, talks about selfies joking around. Refers to swearing a lot and that she isn't suitable for a younger programming.
For providing a platform for live music she sings / preforms 'Unholy' and 'Special,' at the Live Lounge. Both recent releases. Lizzo shared her information about her tour / her collaborations more. Entertains through comedy with presenters.
She targets the 15 - 29 year olds because her personality and song choices entertain those target audiences. She covered the UK artist Sam Smith by singing UnHoly.
There were equal amounts of talking and singing in her interview.
Wednesday 25th January 2023
Music Videos
L/O: to explore this section of the unit and research chosen case studies.
'Sk8er Boi' - Avril Lavigne, 2002
Genre - Pop, Rock and Pop Punk
Date the song was released in the UK - 14 September 2002
What the song is about - The singer's viewpoint about her rocker boyfriend and a girl he knew in high school who rejected him because he was a skateboarder and she was a snob.
What happens in the music video - Police cars and a helicopter arrive to disperse the crowd, while Lavigne uses her guitar to break the car windshield. Lavigne then throws the guitar onto the road and looks up at the helicopter, where a shot was taken for the single's artwork.
Who features in the music video - Lavigne singing on the hood of a car with a crowd rocking out around her.
Lyrics - https://www.google.com/search?q=Lyrics+for+Sk8er+boi&oq=Lyrics+for+Sk8er+boi&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30.10664j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
'Teenage Dirtbag' - Wheatus, 2000
Genre - American Skater Rock
Date the song was released in the UK - 20 June 2000
What the song is about - The song was written by guitarist and vocalist Brendan B. Brown and was inspired by a childhood experience of his.
What happens in the music video - Jason Biggs plays a nerdy character and Mena Suvari is the love interest who unexpectedly invites the protagonist to an Iron Maiden concert, and in the end scene they dance together on prom night.
Who features in the music video - Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari and the band.
Lyrics - https://www.google.com/search?q=lyrics+for+teenage+dirtbag&oq=lyrics+for+teenage+dirtbag&aqs=chrome..69i57.5081j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Purpose for 'Sk8er Boi' music video
- The song is a metaphor about two people who are unlikely to be together when in reality they should be a couple.
- Because their outside appearance differs, the girl was too shallow to see what was inside the punk, she missed out on a good guy.
- Most of Avril's songs were about real life situations culled from her personal experience.
- The song proves that you should see beyond the outside appearance and get to know a person before judging them.
- Helps to promote Avril's identity, image and status.
Purpose for 'Teenage Dirtbag' music video
- The origins of the song come from a grisly murder that took place when Boyd was a child, involving an older child that had bullied him.
- They explain what it was like being a teenager back then.
- The narrative illustrates how the self-image of young people can be negatively affected when they go against mainstream ideologies.
- The music video is supposed to celebrate the rebellious side of being a teenager.
Main Types of music video - performance and narrative.
Narrative Element - plot, characters, point of view, setting, theme, conflict, style and vocabulary.
Wheatus - narrative and performance and Avril.
Lavigne - performance plus some narrative.
Wednesday 8th February 2023
L/O: to examine the use of media language in music videos.
Mise - En - Scene
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus narrative - kid gets bullied by a popular guy but the popular guys girlfriend falls in love with the kid at the end then he realises it was all a dream.
Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne narrative - Lower class boy falls in love with a higher class girl and then he realises he prefers Avril Lavigne and falls in love with her and cause a massive scene in the street.
Mise - en - scene:
- setting
- costume
- props
- lighting
- hair and makeup
- colour
- performance = positioning, facial expressions, body language.
Represents Taylor Swift as wealthy, tub filled with jewellery, tub handles are gold, long nails means more expensive, wearing lots of expensive jewellery.
Sk8er Boi
Background shows that she isn't very wealthy, clothes and accessories don't look expensive so proves that she is lower class, has a tattoo on her arm. Avril is a rebel and teenager.
Shows they don't have enough money to afford a car to fit everyone in so they all squeeze into the back of one, again their clothes and accessories look cheap and dirty. Punk.
Shows that she doesn't care what happens to her so smashes up the car she stood on while performing to everyone on the street. Police helicopter arrives above at the end of the music video. They're rebels. Set in an urban city street.
Teenage Dirtbag
Shows that the kid rides a bike to school because he might not be able to afford a car or even have any friends to take him to school, clothes show why in the music video he is represented as the 'loser'.
Proves that he gets bullied at school by the girl he likes boyfriend. Nobody helps him up or helps him to pick up his belongings so proves he doesn't have any friends.
This scene shows that the girl has realised that her boyfriend is a bully and recognised that the good guy is really the person in - front of her and offers him tickets.
Wednesday 1st March 2023
L/O: to examine the use of media language in music videos.
Do now
1. A Harbour is used as the setting because the music video is based on a fish, helps with the narrative.
2. Lighting is dark / low key lighting to create a darker mood, atmosphere.
3. Props and costumes help set the scene of a seaside town / harbour, also helps set the time period.
Avril Lavigne and her friends are dressed like skaters. This is achieved by using vintage clothes and all of the bracelets she is wearing as well as a cap and a tie. This could suggest to the audience that they aren't wealthy, more lower class and rebellious.
In Avril Lavigne's music video, it is set in an american city. We know this as we are shown shots of her stood on a car signing in the middle of the road between hundreds of tall flats and shows a boy riding a bike on top of the roofs, also because of the yellow taxis everywhere. In my opinion the video is set here because in the narrative in the video they're setting up a big gig.
In the Teenage Dirtbag video the guy who gets bullied is wearing a t - shirt with a long shirt over it with a brown coat and a hat, this shows he is the stereotypical nerd of the school because at the start of the video he is walking through the school hallway and gets pushed over and gets called a loser multiple times. We know he's a loser because we can tell straight away who the popular guy is because he wears a letterman jackets and has blonde hair and hangs round with a big group and has a girlfriend.
The music videos for Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi and Wheatus' Teenage Dirtbag use setting and costume to achieve similar effects.
For example, in Sk8er Boi, they are seen as rebellious teens / punks and skaters, they wear baggy clothes, thick black bracelets, caps, long messy ties to achieve the narrative. Teenage Dirtbag, achieves the school narrative because you see the loser of the school dressed different to the popular boys / popular group and see him getting bullied by everyone, this achieves the narrative because it's about a loser being a teenage dirtbag / achieves the stereotype of a geek.
These are used effectively because both music videos match the mood / style of each narrative.
Camera Work
S - Shot type
A - Angle
M - Movement
Wednesday 8th March 2023
L/O: to explore how camerawork is used to create meaning in music videos.
1. Low angle / Long shot / Wide angle shot.
2. Used to show that there is a group and help show who the main character is.
3. Camera shot makes props (kids car and bikes) look bigger.
1. She's in desert, camera shot shows that there is nobody around her, hot weather, dry.
2. The artist might be singing about being alone.
3. Long shot proves she is alone / there is nobody around her.
Sk8er Boi - Expressionistic
Teenage Dirtbag - Naturalistic
2.
Shot name - Point of view.
Why used - To show she is the main character out of everyone in the city.
Why used here - To show she is the most important one in the music video.
3.
Shot name - Long shot / Wide shot.
Why used - To show he is sat by himself, show the sign that says 'loser' and nobody is around him.
Why used here - To prove the point that he is the 'loser' of the music video / the school.
4.
Shot name - Medium long shot / High angle.
Why used - To show the main character, she's stood on the car and everyone else is stood on the road.
Why used here - Everyone is listening to her on the car, shows she is the powerful one.
5.
Shot name - Mid shot / Low angle.
Why used - To show who the 'popular' guys are, makes him look bigger, stronger.
Why used here - Shows who the popular guy is. Nobody except his mates are going near him.
6.
Shot name - Dutch Tilt.
Why used - Shows that she is the main focus, adds to the style of the music video.
Why used here - Show how important she is.
Sk8er Boi
- Energetic
- Chaotic
- Thrilling
- Quick / Fast
- Loud
Teenage Dirtbag
- Smooth
- Still
- Calm
- Slow
- Natural
The camera movement in Teenage Dirtbag is naturalistic. For example, at one point in the video when the girl is walking up to the boy it is very calm and slow. The smooth camerawork fits the tone of the song because it's a quiet scene where the school loser gets spoken to by the popular girl.
The camera movement in Sk8er Boi is expressionistic. For example, at one point in the video she is singing and jumping on the car. The high angle camerawork fits the tone of the song because it's about rebellious teenagers.
Music producers use camerawork to help construct the identity of an artist or brand in 'Sk8er Boi' by making it clear that Avril Lavigne is the main character, they show this by using high angles of her, this showed her stood on a car signing and everyone around her stood on the road cheering for her. Another angle they used was dutch tilt, this was shown when a boy was videoing her snd only her. Near the end there is a long shot of her and her band, this made her stand out due to her being the only girl and centre of the group. All of these things help Avril Lavigne show her identity by showing that she is different, rebellious and doesn't care about other peoples opinions.
Wednesday 22nd March 2023
L/O: To explore how sound and editing are used to create meaning in music videos.
Sound is divided into two categories - Diegetic and Non Diegetic.
Diegetic sounds are those from inside the world of the text (that the characters can hear).
Non Diegetic sounds are sounds outside the world of the film (that the characters cannot hear).
Teenage Dirtbag - only diegetic sound is the car riding into the bike and the bike falling over. Because it connects the narrative with the song.
Sk8er Boi - only diegetic sounds is traffic, spray cans falling over, boy unclipping himself from rope, police sirens, helicopter and smashing of glass. Because it adds realism and helps set the scene in a city and connects with them being rebellious teenagers. (Anti - establishment)
Editing
- Special effects
- Transitions
- Order of shots / shot choices
- Continuity
- Shot duration
- Pace and rhythm
Both Teenage Dirtbag and Sk8er Boi use continuity editing.
Sk8er Boi - Faster beat, more cuts.
Teenage Dirtbag - longer shots so it connects with the narrative.
- In the two music videos the camerawork / camera movement differs to fit the meaning of the song and the musicians' image. For example the camera movement in the music video of Teenage Dirtbag is naturalistic, they showed this because at one point in the video when the girl is walking up to the boy it is very calm and slow. The smooth camerawork fits the tone of the song because it's a quiet scene where the school loser gets spoken to by the popular girl. Whereas, the camera movement in the music video of Sk8er Boi is expressionistic, they showed this because at one point in the video she is singing and jumping on the car. The high angle camerawork fits the tone of the song because it's about a group of rebellious teenagers.
Wednesday 19th April 2023
L/O: to explore how representations are constructed in music videos.
Representation
Male stereotypes - physically strong, short hair, aggressive, active, tough, not emotional, independent.
Female stereotypes - physically weak, not aggressive, long hair, makeup, dependent, emotional, kind.
Objectification - the action of degrading someone to the status of a mere object.
Sexual objectification - when a male or female views another male or female primarily as an object of sexual desire, rather than as a person.
SB - punk rock genre, teenagers, urban setting, anti stereotypical gender, sexuality is straight, rebelliousness, antiestablishment.
TD - high school, anti stereotypical gender / predominantly white, teenage stereotypes, the band, the male and female protagonists, heteronormative gender / straight.
Wednesday 26th April 2023
L/O: to explore and practice exam style questions.
MEDIA LANGUAGE EXAMPLE QS:
WWW: good use of terminology and you explain the effect of the elements used.
EBI: make sure you are using specific, detailed examples from the videos to support your ideas
WWW: good use of terminology and you explain the effect of the elements used.
EBI: make sure you are using specific, detailed examples from the videos to support your ideas
Compare how gender representations are constructed in music videos. Refer to two music videos you have studied to support your answer:
4 mark question.
- what representations could you mention
- how are those representations constructed
- what specific examples could you use from each music video
- need 2 examples for each music video for a 4 mark question.
In the 'Sk8er Boi' music video Avril Lavigne is represented as a un stereotypical female. For example, mise - en - scene shows that her outfit is un stereotypical for a female because it is dark colours, not revealing any part of her body and is also dirty, her performance when she is stood up on the roof of the car while playing the guitar is un stereotypical because females are usually dressed formal and sing. The connotations of the performance and outfit may make the audience question what is stereotypical and what is un stereotypical for a female.
Whereas in the 'Teenage Dirtbag' music video the main female is represented as stereotypical female. We see this through mise - en - scene, close ups and framing. For example, the outfit she is wearing near the end at the prom / dane is brightly coloured, showing her chest and legs, she is wearing makeup and has her hair done, when we see this we see it go from a mid shot to a close up in slow motion. The connotations of the camera shots and angles suggest she is being sexualised and made to look attractive to the male / males.
Explain how stereotypes are used in music videos. Refer to two music videos you have studied to support your answer:
10 mark question.
- why are stereotypes used in music videos
- what stereotypes could you mention
- how are those representations constructed
- what specific examples could you use from each video
- need 2 (3 if you have time) examples for each music video for a 10 mark question
Stereotypes are used in music videos because they are easily recognisable and helps the audience understand the narrative. For example, in the music video of 'Sk8er Boi' they use a stereotypical representation of males as active, rule breakers and interested in females. This is shown through them often skating, biking or driving, often in places they shouldn't be (like on the roof tops of buildings), and filming the pretty girl in the car. This fits in with the teenage stereotypes also used. Another stereotypical representation used in the music video is teenagers and how they are shown as rebellious. This is shown at the very start of the music video when they're spray painting the walls on the streets and houses leaving vast amounts of graffiti everywhere. This fits well with the teenage stereotype because the normal representation of them is how they are; rude, rebellious, don't care about anything and don't think about their actions.
Stereotypes are used in the music video of 'Teenage Dirtbag' towards the main female. This is shown through how the female is dressed at the dance near the end of the music video. For example, as she walks up to the loser we are shown that the dress she is wearing is red, glittery and revealing, we know this because of the camera angles, we get a close up of her while she is walking in slow motion, this is also fitting in with the stereotypes of a female because it is sexualising her to the audience and the male she is walking up to. Another way 'Teenage Dirtbag' represents stereotypes is through the bully / jock. For example, we are shown a mid shot of him walking through the high school corridors pushing over multiple people and has a big gang of males behind him laughing, tis fits with stereotypes because the 'bully' is always known to have a big group of people behind him. We also get the impression that he is dating the pretty girl who i just talked about, to the audience it a normal for the pretty girl to date a bully / popular male.
Monday 20th May 2024
Exam Revision
Who regulates radio in the UK?
- OfCom.
Who owns Radio 1?
- BBC.
What is public service broadcasting?
- Broadcasting that benefits the public.
What is the term meaning the merging of previously separate media forms in one entity?
- Convergence.
Music Section
- Teenage troublemakers
- Chaos
- Rebellion
- City escape
- Nerd
- Popular Highschool Teenagers
- Bullies
- Based in highschool
Older generation - classical music, old news, 60s, 70s, 80s music, adverts.
Older educated audience - lots of news, highly educated people on interviews, adverts.
Younger generation - music that is popular during the time, interviewing the new upcoming artists, tickets to festivals, adverts.
Live Lounge
- BBC Radio 1
- Ricky, Melvin and Charlie, they are tv presenters, Charlie is a musician and dj.
- Early 30s young and reflect on the audience.
- Informal language / slang like "big up", "sick".
- Use language familiar with the young generation.
- Support and promote British artists.
Question 4
- Rebellious.
- Presented as serious.
- Gothic look.
- 80s feel.
- Makeup and colour palette back up idea of gothic.
- Elton John - older generation.
Question 5
Need a conclusion
Contexts
- Changes in gender roles.
- Attitudes to sexuality.
- Multiculturalism
- Celebrity culture
- Consumerism
In conclusion, the media language used is very different to each other. This is due to the difference in genre between both magazines.
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